Romney talks Iowa, Obama, and tax returns

Earlier today, NBC's Andrea Mitchell interviewed GOP front-runner Mitt Romney from Iowa on a host of different topics. Below are some of the exchanges and answers:

On his prospects in Iowa:

Well, I want to do well here. I don't think you can predict who's going to do well in Iowa; it’s a state where you don’t know who's going to come to the caucus or how they're going to make up their minds. But you do hope to get to some of the delegates from Iowa. I need some delegates from New Hampshire and then we go on to South Carolina and Florida. It’s going to probably be a very long road.

On the pro-Romney Super PAC TV ad attacks on Newt Gingrich:

If you can't stand the heat in this little kitchen wait until you get Obama's Hell's Kitchen! It’s going to be a battle of ideas. But, of course, recognize that campaigns are going to point out distinctions between the candidates.

On Romney's charge that President Obama has "apologized" for America:

Mitchell: You say that you wouldn't apologize for America, fact check has never found any incidents where Obama has apologized for America...

Romney: Well when he went to the Arab world in his first weeks in office, and said that American had dictated to other nations, that America had been divisive, these kinds of words are certainly apologetic in tone and nature.

It was deemed the apology tour by many. The London Times reported that this president had been more critical of his own country on foreign soil than nay American president in history. And so many of us -- appropriately I believe -- saw this as a apology by the president for the United States of America of which I disagree.

On whether he'll release his tax returns, especially if he becomes president:

Romney: That's not something that I’m thinking about today but never say never.

Mitchell: But if you were elected would you release? Every president does.

Romney: You know ,if I become president, then I'll think about that. [Laughs.] It’s a little premature for me to be talking about that.